Grand slam bean bag baseball

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for a bag toss game and method of play are disclosed. An offensive game board and a defensive game board each include at least one support member position on a first side of the game board. The at least one support member angles a top surface of the game board above a ground surface. A plurality of cutouts are positioned through the top surface of the game board, each of the plurality of cutouts to receive a bag tossed through one of the plurality of cutouts, wherein each of the plurality of cutouts is associated with a consequence.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/190,049 filed Nov. 13, 2018, entitled “GRAND SLAM BEAN BAG BASEBALL” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments generally relate to recreational games and more particularly to bag toss games.

BACKGROUND

In many bag toss games, such as “Corn Hole”, players toss a bean bag on to a four foot by two foot board and hopefully throw the bean bag through a hole positioned through the surface of the board. If the bean goes passes through the hole the player is awarded three points, and if the bean bag land and remains on the board the player is awarded one point. Deductive scoring is used between opposing teams, and thus if the opponent scores points, the players points are cancelled. Gameplay continues until a target number is reached (e.g., twenty-one points).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is provided to introduce a variety of concepts in a simplified form that is disclosed further in the detailed description of the embodiments. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus for a bag toss game and method of play. An offensive game board and a defensive game board each include at least one support member position on a first side of the game board. The at least one support member angles a top surface of the game board above a ground surface. A plurality of cutouts are positioned through the top surface of the game board, each of the plurality of cutouts to receive a bag tossed through one of the plurality of cutouts, wherein each of the plurality of cutouts is associated with a consequence.

During use, the players or teams decide how many innings they want to play and whoever has the most runs at the end of the last inning will win the game, just like in baseball. Unlike other bean bag tossing games this game does not have identical boards on each side of the playing field. The boards are different. There is an offensive board and a defensive board. This game is played using skill and strategy as players try to stop the other team from scoring or try to score before they get three outs against them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present embodiments and the advantages and features thereof will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1A illustrates a top plan view of the offensive game board, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 1B illustrates a top plan view of the defensive game board, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 1C illustrates a side elevation view of the game board, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 1D illustrates a rear elevation view of the game board, according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodiments described herein are to the described apparatus. Any specific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only, and no unnecessary limitations or inferences are to be understood therefrom.

Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of components and procedures related to the apparatus. Accordingly, the apparatus components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodiments described herein are set forth in this application. Any specific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only, and no unnecessary limitation or inferences are to be understood therefrom. Furthermore, as used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship, or order between such entities or elements.

In general, the embodiments provided herein relate to a bean bag toss game wherein players toss bags through a plurality of holes positioned through a game board. This bean bag tossing game has qualities and features resembling a baseball game. Each player/team will engage in offensive and defensive play, such as by attempting to score or attempting to prevent the other team from scoring. The game is played using skill and strategy as players/teams play defense to try to get three outs, against an opposing player/team. The players/team also play offense to try to score runs before the opposing defensive team gets three outs. Players/teams alternate turns throwing bags. The defense will throw a bag then the offense will throw another bag until all four bags are thrown. This continues until three outs are registered. Players or teams will switch from playing offense to playing defense and vis-versa similar to a standard game of baseball.

The game associated with the game board is a bean bag tossing baseball game that not only involves skill to toss a bean bag through a hole but also involves lots of strategy as players or teams try to score more runs than their opponents and also try to stop the opponents from scoring. Players will play both, offense trying to score runs and defense, trying to stop the other team from scoring runs.

Grand Slam Bean Bag Baseball is a game of baseball played by tossing bean bags. It can be played one on one or with teams of players. One playing board is an offensive board where the player or team on offense tries to throw bean bags into holes on the board that are labeled as “single”, “double”, “triple” “home run”, or “stole base.” There are also holes that have negative results like “strike”, etc.

Further, there is the defensive board where the player or team on defense tries to get three outs against the offensive player or team. The defensive player or team will try to throw the bean bags into holes on the board that are labeled “fly out”, “ground out” etc. There are also holes that have negative results for the defense like “hit by pitch walk”, etc.

The players or teams decide how many innings they want to play and whoever has the most runs at the end of the last inning will win the game, just like in baseball. Unlike other bean bag tossing games this game does not have identical boards on each side of the playing field. The boards are different. There is an offensive board and a defensive board. This game is played using skill and strategy as players try to stop the other team from scoring or try to score before they get three outs against them.

This game can be played one on one or have teams of players on each side. In this description, teams are used as an example. The game has two boards like a regular Corn Hole game, but these boards are not identical like the Corn Hole game. One board is an offensive board, and the other board is a defensive board. To start the game one team will be on offensive (the batter) and one team will be on defense (the pitcher). Each team will have an easy wipe plastic handheld coaching board to keep track of men on base, outs, strikes, balls and the score and the innings. These boards will have a layout of a baseball diamond. As an example, if the offense throws a bean bag in a hole labeled “single”, the player can put an “X” on the second based on the whiteboard.

The game boards will be placed a certain distance from one another. For example, the front edge of the game boards are positioned about 27-feet apart. One skilled in the arts will readily understand that the distance between the front edges may be changed to modify the difficulty of the game. The players can decide how far apart they want the boards to be. If young kids are playing the boards would be closer together than when adults would play. Each board has twelve holes. Six of the holes are the same size as the bean bags and are the holes that each team will try to aim for as these holes will bring positive results. The other six holes are about two inches larger than the smaller holes and these holes are the holes each team will want to try to avoid, as these holes bring negative consequences. Each hole will have a net attached to it from underneath the board so players can confirm what hole the bean bag went through. The game comes with eight five inch tossing bags and each team gets four bags each.

Defense throws first. The defense will try to get three outs before the offense scores any runs. One team (the defense) will try to throw for fly out's, ground outs, and strikes while the other team (the offense) will try to throw for homeruns, singles, doubles, triples and stolen bases. When the game starts and the pitching/defensive team goes first, they will toss a bean bag at the defensive board. If the bean bag lands in a hole labeled “strike” then each team will mark a strike on the coach's whiteboard. Whatever the outcome is from a toss it will be marked on the coach's whiteboard. After the defense throws a bag, the offense will throw a bag. If the batting/offensive team throws a bean bag at the offensive board and it lands in a hole labeled “double” it will be marked down on the coach's handheld whiteboard. Then the defense or pitching team throws again followed by the batting team, alternating throws until there are 3 outs and then the teams will switch sides to throw at the opposite board switching from defense to offense and offense to defense.

The game plays is similar baseball rules. If a player on offense throws a bean bag in the hole labeled “double” and the next throw from the offense lands in the hole labeled “triple” then the man on second base will score a run. The defense will try to get 3 outs and the offense will try to score runs before the 3 outs. Players will decide how many innings are to be played prior to the start of the game. Any bag that lands on the defensive board (not landing in a hole) will be marked as a “ball” while any bag that lands on the offensive board (not landing in a hole) will be marked as a “foul ball”. The exception to that rule is the zone at the bottom of the board where there are no holes. On the offensive board this zone is labeled “strike” and if a bean bag lands here, it is a strike to the batter. On the defensive board this zone is labeled “walk” and if a bean bag lands here, it is a walk to the batter. Whichever player or team has the most runs after the last inning ends wins the game. Game rules will be included in the game.

As used herein, the term “game board” may be used to describe the defensive game board 100 and/or the offensive game board 200.

FIG. 1A illustrates a top plan view of the offensive game board 100. In some embodiments, the defensive game board 100 includes a rectangular top surface 101 which may be dimensioned at 48-inches long and 26-inches wide. However, it is to be readily understood that the dimensions are used solely as an example and that the game board may be modified having various shapes and dimensions. A frame 103 provides structural support and forms the underside perimeter of the game board. A first homerun wall 105 engages with a first groove 107 and a second homerun wall 108 engages with a second groove. A first homerun cutout 109 and a second homerun cutout 111 are positioned as cutouts through the top surface 101 of the offensive game board 100 and are labelled “homerun” to aid in the user proper scoring during gameplay. The first homerun cutout 109 and the second homerun cutout 111 are each dimensioned having a 5-inch diameter cutout through the top surface 101 of the offensive game board 100.

A first “hit into double play/flyout” cutout 113 is provided having a 7-inch diameter cutout. A second “hit into double play/flyout” cutout 115 is provided having a 7-inch diameter cutout. A “double” cutout 117, a “triple” cutout 119, a “single” cutout 121, and a “stolen base” cutout 123 are each 5-inches in diameter and each positioned through the top surface 101 of the offensive game board 100.

A “flyout” cutout 125, a “swing-and-miss/strike” cutout 127, a “groundout” cutout 129, and a second “strike” 131 cutout are provided having a 7-inch diameter each positioned through the top surface 101 of the offensive game board 100.

In some embodiments, the game board (i.e., the defensive game board and/or offensive game board) may be constructed plywood forming the top surface 101 having a thickness between about ½ inch to 1-inch.

In some embodiments, the frame 103 is constructed of 2×4 wood beams.

In some embodiments, the first and second homerun walls are between 3-4 inches high when engaged with the game board.

FIG. 1B illustrates a top plan view of the defensive game board 200 having a second top surface 201 and a second frame 203. The defensive game board 200 is constructed in the same manner as the offensive game board. However, the cutouts have differing associated positive/negative consequences. A “fly out/double play” cutout 205, a “flyout” cutout 207, a first “strike” cutout 209, a second “strike” cutout 211, and aa “ground out” cutout 213 each are provided with a 5-inch diameter through the second top surface 201 of the defensive game board 200. A first “hit by pitch/walk” cutout 217, a “fielding error” cutout 219, a “ball” cutout 221, a second “double play/flyout” cutout 225, and a “fielding error/single” cutout 227 are provided having a 7-inch diameter cutout through the second top surface 201 of the defensive game board 200. A walk region is labeled on the second top surface 201 which indicates a walk for the offensive player if a bag lands thereon. A first “base hit” cutout 229 and a second “base hit” cutout 231 are also provided.

In some embodiments, the offensive game board and defensive game board includes a first set of cutouts and a second set of cutouts. The first set of cutouts may have a smaller diameter than the second set of cutouts.

In some embodiments, the offensive game board includes twelve cutouts, and the defensive game board includes twelve cutouts. Each cutout is labelled with a consequence associated with tossing the bag through the cutout.

In some embodiments, consequences may be plays or events associated with a baseball game. For example, the consequences may be the following: a ground out, a stolen base, a strike, a ball, a single, a double, a triple, a double play, a fly out, a ground out, a homerun, a double play, a fielding error, a base hit, a hit by pitch, a walk, etc. One skilled in the arts will readily understand that other consequences associated with the game of baseball may be used.

FIG. 1C illustrates a side elevation view of the game board 300 (this may be either the offensive or defensive game boards illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B). The game board 300 is positioned on the ground 301 or other surface. One or more support members 303 extend between the ground and the board 305 (the board 305 forms the first top surface 101 or second top surface 201 as described in FIGS. 1A and 1B). The one or more support members 303 raise a first side 307 of the board 305 to a sufficient angle, while the second side 309 of the board rests on the ground 301 or may be supported by a member 311. FIG. 1D illustrates a rear elevation view of the game board 300 including support members 303.

In some embodiments, the game board 300 is positioned on an elevated surface such as a table to provide a means for modifying the gameplay difficulty, strategy, or experience.

Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.

An equivalent substitution of two or more elements can be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element can be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements can be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination can be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present embodiment is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for a bag toss game, comprising: an offensive game board and a defensive game board each including at least one support member position on a first side of the game board, the at least one support member to angle a top surface of the game board above a ground surface; and a plurality of cutouts positioned through the top surface of the game board, each of the plurality of cutouts to receive a bag tossed through one of the plurality of cutouts, wherein each of the plurality of cutouts is associated with a consequence.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the offensive game board is comprised of twelve cutouts.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the twelve cutouts include the following consequences: a homerun, a double play/flyout, a double, a triple, a strike, a single, a flyout, a groundout, and a stolen base.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the defensive game board is comprised of twelve cutouts.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the twelve cutouts include the following consequences: a flyout, a fielding error, a double play/flyout, a base hit, a strike, a hit by pitch, a groundout, a ball, and a field error/single.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a groove to receive a home run wall.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the home run wall is positioned on the top surface of the game board.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first set of cutouts has a smaller diameter than a second set of cutouts.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the offensive game board and defensive game board are positioned at a distance apart from one another.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cutouts is labelled to indicate the associated consequence.
 11. An apparatus for a bag toss game, comprising: an offensive game board and a defensive game board each including at least one support member position on a first side of the game board, the at least one support member to angle a top surface of the game board above a ground surface; a frame engaged with the top surface of the game board, the frame on the bottom side of the top surface; a first set of cutouts and a second set of cutouts each positioned through the top surface of the game board, each of the first set of cutouts and the second set of cutouts to receive a bag tossed through one of the first set or second set of cutouts, wherein each of the cutouts are associated with a consequence.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the offensive game board is comprised of twelve cutouts.
 13. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the twelve cutouts include the following consequences: a homerun, a double play/flyout, a double, a triple, a strike, a single, a flyout, a groundout, and a stolen base.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the defensive game board is comprised of twelve cutouts.
 15. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the twelve cutouts include the following consequences: a flyout, a fielding error, a double play/flyout, a base hit, a strike, a hit by pitch, a groundout, a ball, and a field error/single.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a groove to receive a home run wall.
 17. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the home run wall is positioned on the top surface of the game board.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first set of cutouts has a smaller diameter than the second set of cutouts.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the offensive game board and defensive game board are positioned at a distance apart from one another.
 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cutouts is labelled to indicate the associated consequence. 